PNEUMATICS. 169 



siderable improvement had been made. The 

 addition of a parachute, however, lessens much 

 the danger of this machine. 



The parachute is, in fact, only a large umbrella, 

 which the aeronaut attaches to his body, and with 

 which he descends in perfect safety when separated 

 from the balloon. The first experiments were made 

 by causing dogs to descend from the balloon with 

 umbrellas or small parachutes attached; and 

 Garnerin was the first who successfully descended 

 from a balloon with a parachute. 



The imagination can scarcely figure to itself any 

 thing more daring than such an exploit. On Sep- 

 tember 21, 1802, M. Garnerin ascended alone 

 from St. George's-parade, North Audley-Street, 

 Grosvenor-square. He went to the height of 8000 

 feet before he cut away the parachute, to which he 

 was suspended. His descent for the first thirty 

 seconds was astonishingly rapid. The parachute 

 then expanded, and came down steadily; but it 

 soon began to swing; and this motion increased to 

 such a degree, that all were alarmed for the safety 

 of the aeronaut. When it came near to the earth 

 the swinging motion decreased, and he alighted 

 without any injury. The velocity with which he 

 came to the ground, was the same as if he had 

 leaped from a height of four feet. 



Notwithstanding the extraordinary nature of the 

 discovery of air-balloons, it has not yet been applied 

 to any useful purpose. The machine may be ele- 

 vated or lowered at pleasure, by throwing out 

 ballast, or letting out some inflammable air; but no 

 means have yet been found, by which it can be 

 steered in any other direction than that of the 

 wind. This has prevented it from being applied 

 to the purposes of travelling; nor have we acquired 



